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Welcome to my blog, where I take pleasure in words and pictures, be they my own or those of others. I'm a creative individual, and the crafty side I explore on my 'other blog', Picking Up The Threads, which I hope you'll visit too. I'm sure you understand that I have sole copyright of my original work and any of my contributions, so please ask if you want to use them. A polite request is rarely refused. So, as they used to say on the BBC's 'Listen With Mother' radio programme, many years ago: "Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin."

Friday, 19 October 2012

Window of Opportunity

One of the themes on offer in this week's Sepia Saturday is 'windows'. I thought I'd pretty much covered this in a previous post; 'But Soft, What Light...?'. But then, flicking through the albums I came upon a few missed opportunities. I discovered three windows which all have a claim to fame in some way. The above picture of my husband, with his holiday pint in hand, was taken in 1977 in the quaintly named Cornish village of Mousehole, looking out of the window of the harbourside Ship Inn. Four years after this picture was taken the landlord of the pub died along with fellow crew members in the famous Penlee Lifeboat disaster. The village (pronounced Mowzel) is also famous for visits from the poet Dylan Thomas, who described it as 'the loveliest village in England' and for being the home of the last native Cornish speaker.

Here is my husband again, with our daughter, in 1979, looking down from one of the tower windows in another famous seaside village. This one is Portmeirion in Wales, which is famous primarily for being the setting of 'The Prisoner' TV series, now a cult classic. Over the years it has been visited by many famous musicians and writers, including Noel Coward, who wrote 'Blithe Spirit' there.

The final picture is me aged about ten, with my parents, outside Dove Cottage, Grasmere in The Lake District. This was the home of the poet William Wordsworth and his sister from 1799 - 1808. Here he wrote many of his famous poems, and his sister Dorothy kept her famous journals. If you click on the link you'll see that at the window immediately behind our heads is now obscured by shrubbery. The bedroom window in my own picture appears to have faces staring out, and so would fit in with the Sepia Saturday theme. However, when the picture is enlarged the 'faces' seem to be no more than reflections or tricks of the light. If they're faces it would be lovely to think that they were the ghosts of William and Dorothy, but a more likely explanation is that they were just holidaymakers like us.

It seems I can't resist (unwittingly) making pilgrimages to the sources of inspiration for famous writers and poets. Sadly the genius of Coward, Wordsworth and Thomas didn't rub off on me, but perhaps a little bit of the magic did and gave me my lifelong love or poetry and wit.

Why not join us at Sepia Saturday and see what windows of opportunty other contributors found.

27 comments:

Mousehole is one of my favourite Cornish villages, too. Whilst studying with the OU, I worked as a drayman, and The Ship was a regular 'drop'. Pretty tight, squeezing a 10 ton truck through the street, especially in summer. I didn't know that Dylan Thomas was a fan. We are indeed, in good company, Nell.

A few things have personal relevance for me: I was in Mousehole in the early ' 90s and adored it! I own some Portmeirion pottery, and I have read Dorothy Wordsworth's journals from Grasmere. Thanks for sharing that photo in particular.

You haven't changed a bit, by the way! Do you remember the name of the dog? Was it yours, or just on the scene at the time?

Oh you do have a gift of genius in your stunning (always interesting or entertaining) writing and lovely poems. I knew you'd be here once I posted mine! What an amazing post too, I would have guessed you worked long on it! (Ha! Ha!) You have made me very curious about Mousehole, and I will have to study up on it, and perhaps do a Pinterest if I can! Amazing post you pulled out of your hat! Enjoy your weekend- Karen

Well, I've been to Mousehole and remember the Penlee disaster well. I've always promised myself that I would visit Dove Cottage but haven't made it yet. Now I must just to check out those windows for ghosts.

I also see faces in your bedroom window. It reminds me of a photo I took of the U.S. Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor. The photo was of part of the ship sticking out of the water. The reflections in the water looked like many faces -it was eerie!

I love that shot of your husband and daughter looking down from the tower. It could almost look.like a black and white photograph were it not for that pillar box red jumper! I'm always amazed by the stories and pictures you uncover for these themes. There is no doubt a second career in writing awaits. Your writing is concise, yet very descriptive and detailed, a difficult combination to achieve, but one which comes naturally to you.

OK people, if we all start spreading the word that we have seen this photograph with the ghosts of William and Dorothy appearing, and we leave this URL here and there, we can make Nell famous! And obviously, that rubs off on us. :)Great post, Nell!PS I think your first picture is the only one sofar with an inside/out view.PS2 And who says you can't write? I read you every week.

It's odd Kathy, I must have viewed that photo hundreds of times in my life and yet it was only when I actally looked AT the window that I saw the faces. I really can't remember about the tower. I was the one down below taking the snap :)

Portmeirion, an Italian village in North Whales, very strange... I wonder if there is an Italian who can pronounce its community name 'Penrhyndeudraeth', or call for the fire and emergency service: 'Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub Gogledd Cymru'.

I'll borrow your eyes and believe there are ghosts peering out that window. "Mousehole"? Cute name, but no beach, just boulders...All that water and no beach!!!Rather vexing...But I would still visit. It certainly looks charming enough.Love this post nonetheless, beach or no beach.:)~ HUGZ

Hello Marilyn:We are so pleased that we have not missed out on this post having, in earlier years, visited all three of the places which you feature. We did click the link and think that Dove Cottage looked more interesting in the picture which includes you as a ten year old than today. Associations with writers, painters or, indeed, anyone are always of interest.

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About Me

I am a retired primary school headteacher who moved to Lanzarote for the year-round sunshine, the amazing landscape and the slower pace of life (Mañana really means mañana here). I have been married for 40 years, have a son and daughter and 8 year-old twin grandchildren. I relish the time to do what I like at last; get up when I want to, go to bed when I want to. Of course there are things I miss about England: the song of the robin and blackbird in my garden and watching the blue-tits nesting, the theatre, the art galleries, the cathedrals, but I get my fix on the visits back to Blighty and travels further afield. This is my home now, in every sense.